Flying from London to Shanghai: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports to start your journey from. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when planning your flight from London to Shanghai. Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the city's other main bases.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are Shanghai's major gateways.
The average time for a direct London to Shanghai flight is 11 hours 40 minutes.
Shanghai's timezone is UTC+8, making Shanghai eight hours ahead of London.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is the most traveled route that connects these two cities. There are 14 weekly flights to choose from. If you prefer a later start to the day, the last flight from London to Shanghai is with China Eastern Airlines at 21:20. Go for the first LHR to PVG departure operated by British Airways at 12:10 to fit in more activities on your first day in Shanghai.
For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to board your London to Shanghai flight.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights when you fly during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Shanghai
Book one month before you travel. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap London to Shanghai flights.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from London to Shanghai is April. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates offering the lowest fares.
There's no need to check every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know when there's a better deal on cheap flights from London to Shanghai.
Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your London to Shanghai flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Depart from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Shanghai. From LHR, you can fly straight to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
British Airways is a popular carrier that offers direct London to Shanghai plane tickets leaving from LHR.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your London to Shanghai flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport. Take a pause at one of these airports:
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
The journey from central London to LHR takes about 1 hour on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 55 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Planning to catch an early flight from London to Shanghai? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these stays near London Heathrow Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% of flights complete their journey on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can catch a direct flight from London to Shanghai departing from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Start your trip at LGW and come in for landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
China Eastern Airlines offers direct London to Shanghai plane tickets from LGW. Book your preferred window seat and reach your destination in one go.
Split up your London to Shanghai flight with a stop so you can freshen up or perhaps go somewhere you've never been before. Popular stopovers between London Gatwick Airport and Shanghai are:
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
LGW is about 40 kilometres from central London. It takes 1 hour 20 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from London to Shanghai, unwind in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
London Gatwick Airport has an on-time performance rate of 69%. This figure reflects how frequently flights that take off from this airport arrive on schedule.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Lock in a ticket from London to Shanghai out of Stansted Airport (STN) with a stop or two. Popular stopovers between STN and Shanghai include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP)
From central London, STN is around 48 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour to arrive by car and 1 hour 25 minutes or so on public transport.
Make catching an early London to Shanghai flight the easiest part of your trip. Stay at one of these accommodation options close to Stansted Airport and get to the check-in counter feeling relaxed and unhurried:
Flights that leave from STN arrive at their final stop within the scheduled time frame 64.73% of the time.
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to central Shanghai takes about 50 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 32 kilometres away.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of around 40 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from London to Shanghai, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these accommodation options near PVG:
Go beyond Shanghai and explore places that don't always get the spotlight with your own set of wheels. You can grab a Shanghai Pudong International Airport rental car from Hertz.
To get the best possible deal, book your ride from Shanghai Pudong International Airport a few weeks in advance. Prices typically increase as your departure date approaches.
PVG is situated at No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is around 13 kilometres from central Shanghai. Once you've hopped off your flight from London to Shanghai, it takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and rest at a hotel near SHA. Here are a few options where you can take a load off after your flight from London to Shanghai:
Why base your plans around someone else's schedule? Pick up a Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport rental car and steer your own course. Reserve a set of wheels here with Hertz.
Get the vehicle you prefer, not just whatever's left, by securing your ride from SHA before your arrival. You can also avoid paying extra, especially when the airport is busy.
You'll find Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
Best time to go to Shanghai
It's time to choose your dates for your flight from London to Shanghai. April is the most popular month to travel to Shanghai. If you prefer a more peaceful vibe, go in April.
When booking your London to Shanghai tickets, think about what kind of weather you prefer. August is the warmest month in Shanghai, with temperatures ranging from 23ºC to 34ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from London to Shanghai in January when temperatures average between -1ºC and 10ºC.
More about Shanghai
Start your Shanghai trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from London to Shanghai, browse our selection of accommodation options including:
The Bund Sightseeing Avenue and Yu Garden are just two of the big attractions to add to your Shanghai itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Shanghai Tower.
Explore more of China
Shanghai is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other corners of China waiting to be explored. About 274 kilometres west of Shanghai, a trip to Nanjing will keep you on the go. Check out popular attractions like Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing City Wall and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.
Around 80 kilometres west of Shanghai, Suzhou is another favourite stop in China. No visit is complete without checking out Lotus Peak, Tianpingshan and Shangfang Tower.